Gregg Mayles, one of Rare’s longest-serving workers and co-creator of Banjo-Kazooie, is resigning from the company.
The legacy of Rare in the 1990s is beyond incredible. From massive hits like Battletoads and Banjo-Kazooie to Goldeneye and Donkey Kong Country, there was no studio quite like them. After being bought by Microsoft/Xbox in 2002, the company’s track record went a bit low, with success being less and less. Unfortunately, despite Sea of Thieves’ reputation, the recent cancellation of Everwild has left many dejected, with its director and former creative director now jumping ship.
Gregg Mayles, Co-Creator of Banjo-Kazooie, Resigns From Rare After Everwild Cancellation
In a post on Twitter/X, Gregg Mayles announced his retirement from Rare. True to his form, his message is done in rhymes and can be seen above. For many, he crafted people’s childhoods in more ways than one. Mayles, as previously mentioned, co-created Banjo-Kazooie with his brother Steve Mayles at Rare. In addition, Mayles was responsible for designing games like Viva Pinata, Donkey Kong Country, Sea of Thieves, and Kinect Sports. He had also been Rare’s longest-serving worker, starting as a designer, director, and later studio creative director.
Sadly, his final piece of work would’ve been Rare’s Everwild, which he directed and designed. The title was canceled alongside Project Blackbird and Perfect Dark. Just last week, screenshots of the game emerged, giving us a glimpse as to what could’ve been. With many of the original talents of Rare gone, the studio’s future is a bit uncertain, so hopefully, good will come. Though, with fans hungry for a new Banjo-Kazooie title, the news isn’t the most favorable.
What do you think about Gregg Mayles leaving Rare? Did you play Banjo-Kazooie? What was your favorite game he worked on? Let us know in the comments, Let us know in the comments, forums, and on the official Insider Gaming Discord!
For more on Xbox, check out our articles on Perfect Dark’s almost revival and the removal of DLC discounts. Don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
